The Bishop Blanchet Braves defeated the Mercer Island Islanders 40-13 in the varsity football season-opener on Friday, September 4.

The Braves led 40-0 at halftime, dominating both the first and second quarters of the game. Mercer Island finally scored in the third and fourth quarters, scoring 6 and 7 points respectively.

“Blanchet is really talented,” said Mercer Island coach Brett Ogata, according to the Mercer Island Reporter. “They have some really good athletes that took advantage of some inexperienced mistakes we made on both sides of the ball and before you knew it, we were down by 20-something points.”

According to The Seattle Times, Bishop Blanchet running back Oshea Trujillo ran for 158 yards and scored two touchdowns during the game, tying the 44 career touchdown record set by Blanchet running back Joe Steele in 1975.

“I heard (Steele) was a dude,” Trujillo said, according to The Seattle Times. “It’s an honor. I just hope I can follow in his footsteps, and play at UW someday.”

This was also the first varsity game for Blanchet’s head coach, Kyle Moore. Moore previously coached for Blanchet’s freshman football team, and is an alumnus of Bishop Blanchet.  

Moore’s coaching tenure deemed destined to happen. His great uncle, Ray Segale, was Blanchet’s first head football coach. Most of Moore’s extended family was in the stands to watch this monumental, family event.

The Blanchet varsity football team will play against Lake Washington on September 11.